Crops that feed the world 8: Potato: are the trends of increased global production sustainable?

Potato is produced on all continents except Antarctica and is the world’s third most important food crop. Potato production has increased dramatically in developing countries in the past two decades, and has now overtaken that in the developed world, underlining the growing importance of potato as a staple food crop to meet the demands of increasing human populations. Potato is also an important source of starch. It has been adapted for cultivation in a wide range of environments and, with the availability of significant germplasm resources, the potential to further exploit its natural biodiversity is considerable. Potato yields vary considerably across the world, with the lowest being in Sub-Saharan Africa;